FAST (United Kingdom), AUTONOMOUS MARINE SYSTEMS

Type
Developmental USV mine sweeping system.

Description
The FAST (Flexible Agile Sweeping Technology) system is being developed by an industry team led by Atlas Elektronik UK, and has completed an Interim Design Review for a mine countermeasures (MCM) Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) demonstrator system under development for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Atlas-QED industry team also includes EDO Corporation and QinetiQ. The consortium won a GBP4.3 million (USD8.6 million) contract from the UK's Research Acquisition Organisation in May 2007 for the two-year Technology Readiness Demonstrator (TRD) programme, known as Flexible Agile Sweeping Technology (FAST). The FAST programme is intended to demonstrate the technical maturity of a projected new USV-based influence minesweeping capability for the UK Royal Navy (RN). It will also help determine the capability required and facilitate the transition of science and research into the UK's supplier base. The MoD's Directorate of Equipment Capability (Under Water Effect) plans to fund a replacement for the obsolete Combined Influence Sweep (CIS) by the end of the decade as part of the Future Mine Counter Measures Capability (FMCMC). The decision was taken in 2005 to remove the CIS from the eight remaining Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs). The RN has stated that the CIS should be replaced by an unmanned influence sweep system, initially to be hosted aboard the Hunt class. FAST is intended to ensure that the risks to any follow-on acquisition programme, as part of FMCMC, have been mitigated and minimised. The project will deliver a fully functional MCM USV demonstrator system, based on

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title Jane's Underwater Security Systems and Technology
Publication date Dec 17, 2007
Section AUTONOMOUS MARINE SYSTEMS
Publication synopsis Jane's Underwater Security Systems and Technology is recognised by the marine and underwater technology market as a premier source of accurate information on 'dual-use' underwater technologies and unmanned underwater systems, particularly in relation to 'homeland' and maritime security, seabed survey, subsea surveillance and submarine rescue. It will help you assess security solutions, market opportunities, new technology developments, trends and systems development, making it an essential resource for military or market intelligence, strategic business planning and competitor analysis.
Key contents include
  • Underwater vehicles (e.g. AUV/UUVs, ROVs and manned) and vehicle systems including navigation positioning and communications
  • Seabed mapping systems
  • Harbour port and vessel surveillance and protection systems
  • Submarine rescue systems
  • Diver systems
  • Manufacturers' index and contractors list
Different sections provide in-depth detail covering
  • Acoustic Sensors
  • Analysis
  • Autonomous Seabed Crawlers
  • Autonomous Semi-Submersibles
  • Autonomous Surface Vessels
  • Autonomous Surface Vessels (Asvs)
  • Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
  • Buoys, Drifters And Ocean Profilers
  • Cable And Pipeline Operations Systems
  • Chemical Sensors
  • Communication Systems
  • Conductivity, Salinity, Temperature, Sound Velocity, Depth And Pressure Sensors/Instruments
  • Contractors
  • Current Meters
  • Diver Communications
  • Diver Delivery Vehicles
  • Diver Positioning Systems
  • Diver-Held Sensors
  • Diver-Held Sonars
  • Echo-Sounders
  • Gliders
  • Glossary
  • Handling Systems
  • Hyperbaric Chambers
  • Imaging Sonars
  • Integrated Systems
  • Large Auvs
  • Locators
  • Man-Portable Auvs
  • Manned Scientific Submersibles
  • Manned Submersibles
  • Multisensor Or Parameter Systems
  • Navigation Systems (Including Obstacle Avoidance Sonars)
  • Non-Acoustic Sensors
  • Observation Class Remotely Operated Vehicles
  • Observation Class Rovs
  • Oceanographic Instruments - Plankton Samplers
  • Oceanographic Instruments - Sampling Systems
  • Optical Sensors
  • Pipeline Crawler Rovs
  • Positioning Systems
  • Profiling Sonars
  • Radiation Sensors
  • Rcvs
  • Remotely Controlled Vehicles
  • Rental Companies
  • Robotic Manipulators
  • Seabed Systems, Sediment Profilers, Corers And Landers
  • Side Scan Sonars & Sub-Bottom Profilers
  • Sonar Data Acquisition And Processing Software
  • Submersibles
  • Swath/Multibeam Sonars
  • Tools
  • Tourist Submarines
  • Towed Vehicles
  • Underwater Still Cameras
  • Underwater Vehicle Operators
  • Underwater Video Cameras
  • Vehicle And System Communication Systems
  • Vehicle Navigation Systems
  • Vehicle Operators/Survey Companies
  • Vehicle Positioning Systems
  • Vehicle Tools
  • Wave And Tide Recorders
  • Work Class Remotely Operated Vehicles
  • Work Class Rovs

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